Gluten-Free Apple Crisp from Sweet Cravings

Anyone who knows my daughter Lydia knows one thing: she loves the show Cupcake Wars! While watching an episode recently, she told me she chose a favorite baker, Kyra. Kyra Bussanich is the first & only gluten-free Cupcake Wars winner.

Gluten is a protein that develops in flour that creates the texture we generally look for in baked goods. Many individuals have gluten sensitivities and allergies, and even though information about gluten is becoming more readily available, it is still a challenge to find quality gluten-free foods in stores.

I decided to do a search to see if I could find one of Kyra’s recipes to recreate with Lydia at home – and I learned that she just released her first cookbook, Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle. I contacted the publishing company, and they quickly sent me a copy to review.

Kyra begins this cookbook by listing and describing the alternative flours and other ingredients she uses to create her gluten-free desserts.Kyra recommends Bob’s Red Mill flours, which is my preference as well. All of these ingredients can be found at Whole Foods and other natural grocers. Recipes in Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle include:

• Muffins and Scones
• Buckles, Cobblers, and Crisps
• Quick Breads and Coffee Cakes
• Cookies, Brownies, and Bar Treats
• Puddings, Cakes, and Other Pastries
• Award-Winning Cupcakes
• Tarts, Pies, and Puffs

Together, Lydia and I made the gluten-free Apple Crisp. I have tried many apple desserts, but this was hands-down the best apple dessert I have ever baked. We devoured it in less than a day (we made a half-batch to test it out!)

Here’s the recipe so you can prepare this delicious, gluten-free dessert at home. It is the perfect blend of sweet, spiced, and crunchy.

Ingredients for the apple filling:

• 6 large tart apples
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 T tapioca starch
• 1 T ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t Chinese five-spice powder
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• generous pinch salt
• 3 T cold butter

Ingredients for the topping:

• 1/2 cup sweet white rice flour
• 1/2 cup millet flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca starch
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 t Chinese five-spice powder
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup gluten-free oats
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Peel, core, and slice the apples into 1/4 inch slices. Put the apples slices into a large bowl and pour the maple syrup over the top. Add the tapioca starch, cinnamon, five-spice, ginger, and salt and toss together to evenly coat the apple slices. Pour into a 9 by 13-inch baking pan, dot the top with pieces of the butter and set aside.

To make the topping, combine the flours, tapioca starch, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, five-spice, and ginger in a mixing bowl. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix in the butter until it is uniformly incorporated into the flour mixture. Stir in the oats and pecans.

Crumble the oat topping evenly over the apples. Bake until the topping is golden brown and set and the apples are warm and bubbly, 55 to 60 minutes.

Reprinted with permission from Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle by Kyra Bussanich (Ten Speed Press, © 2013).

We can’t wait to try some of the other recipes, including Coconut Cream Pie, Strawberry Shortcakes, Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes, Sour Cream Coffee Cake, and Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars.

BUY IT!  Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle is available on Amazon for just $15.29.

*The opinions expressed are honest and provided without monetary compensation.